Soda Dam, Jemez, New Mexico

One of the most interesting attractions along Highway 4 in the Jemez Mountains is Soda Dam, a popular stop for travelers visiting the area. A very deep fault at Soda Dam (roughly perpendicular to the highway) serves as a conduit to bring water to the surface. Because of deep faults in the area, surface waters are able to penetrate deep enough to be heated by the earth itself, which is in turn heated by the molten rock underlying the area. Heated and pressurized water carries gases and minerals in a dissolved form to the surface, just like "hard water deposits" in a home faucet.

The mineral Calcium Carbonate, or Travertine makes up the bulk of the deposit. Minor amounts of other minerals or elements cause the different colors in the formation. The bubbles that can be seen rising in the spring waters of Soda Dam are gases dissolved in the water at depth, which on reaching the surface are released into the atmosphere, similar to bubbles in a carbonated drink are released from a bottle or can when opened.

Soda Dam forms a natural dam to the Jemez River, which cuts through it to continue its course. The unique formation shows the continuous processes of nature both building and destroying the feature at the same time.

Photo by Donald Peterson, April, 2007. See more Jemez, New Mexico photos here.